Thousands of people in Greenland took to the streets on Saturday, braving rain and freezing temperatures to protest US President Donald Trump's policy towards the island nation. The protesters, mostly young people, waved their national flag and chanted "Greenland is not for sale," demonstrating their opposition to what they see as an attempt by the US to exert control over the autonomous territory.
The protests came just hours after Trump announced that he would impose a 10% tariff on goods from eight European countries, including Greenland, if those countries opposed US control of the island. The move is seen as an attack on Greenland's sovereignty and self-governance.
"We want to keep our own country and our own culture, and our family safe," said Marie Pedersen, a 47-year-old Greenlander who attended the protest with her 9-year-old daughter Alaska. "They tell us how to stand up if you're being bullied by another country or something."
The protests drew nearly a quarter of Nuuk's population and were described as the largest ever seen in Greenland. Tom Olsen, a police officer in Nuuk, said that he hoped the protest would show Trump that the people of Greenland would not give up their autonomy without a fight.
Meanwhile, some people expressed concern about the potential economic impact of the tariffs. Tillie Martinussen, a former member of Greenland's parliament, said she hoped the Trump administration would "abandon this crazy idea" and instead focus on preserving NATO and Greenland's sovereignty.
As the protesters marched through the streets, they chanted slogans such as "Greenland is not for sale" and carried signs that read "Hands off our country." The message was clear: the people of Greenland will not give up their autonomy without a fight.
The protests have drawn international attention, with many people around the world expressing solidarity with the people of Greenland. As one protester in Copenhagen said, "There are many small countries. None of them are for sale."
The protests came just hours after Trump announced that he would impose a 10% tariff on goods from eight European countries, including Greenland, if those countries opposed US control of the island. The move is seen as an attack on Greenland's sovereignty and self-governance.
"We want to keep our own country and our own culture, and our family safe," said Marie Pedersen, a 47-year-old Greenlander who attended the protest with her 9-year-old daughter Alaska. "They tell us how to stand up if you're being bullied by another country or something."
The protests drew nearly a quarter of Nuuk's population and were described as the largest ever seen in Greenland. Tom Olsen, a police officer in Nuuk, said that he hoped the protest would show Trump that the people of Greenland would not give up their autonomy without a fight.
Meanwhile, some people expressed concern about the potential economic impact of the tariffs. Tillie Martinussen, a former member of Greenland's parliament, said she hoped the Trump administration would "abandon this crazy idea" and instead focus on preserving NATO and Greenland's sovereignty.
As the protesters marched through the streets, they chanted slogans such as "Greenland is not for sale" and carried signs that read "Hands off our country." The message was clear: the people of Greenland will not give up their autonomy without a fight.
The protests have drawn international attention, with many people around the world expressing solidarity with the people of Greenland. As one protester in Copenhagen said, "There are many small countries. None of them are for sale."